Vending machine



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,592

S. SPINA ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec- 25, 1927 f' ,e W

um A WM 7' IR ATroRNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1928.*

sALvA'roREsrINA AND ALBERT cook, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y.

` VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed December 23, 1927. Serial No. 242,048.

This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly relates to a inachine for the automatic vending of news-V papers, magazines and stacked articles in general upon the insertion of a coin, including means for preventing the ejection or removal of more than a predetermined quantity of the inaterialvended after each operation of the machine. Y

Machines heretofore constructed for the vending of articles and for the vending of newspapers andinagazines especially have generally been complicated, unsatisfactory in operation and too expensive to malte them commercially practical to install. Machines and devices now in use,'on the other hand, which have not been beyond the reach of commercial adaptation have been generally unreliable in operation, not fool proof, easily become disarranged or out of order, and not sufficiently sturdy .to long withstand the rough usage which such machines must undergo.

VAn object of our invention is to provide a machine which is commercially practicable and positive and certain in its operation.

Another object of our invention. is to provide a machine which is substantially fool proof and sufficiently sturdy to meet the def mands of long continued and hard usage.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a machine which reliably operates upon the insertion of a coin and which positively prevents theA ejection or removal of more than a predetermined quantity of the articlel vended, f

Another object of our1 invention is to provvide a machine which can be constructed at reasonable cost, which can be commercially adapted with proiit, and which will answer all the exigencies lof the trade. e Other objects of our invention will become evident as the disclosure proceeds.

ln order that a clearer understanding of our inventionmay be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings,

forming'a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of our invention., A

Referring to the'drawngs:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of our machine with the lmaiorportion of the front panel with the side panel removed and istaken on e i line 2-2 of Fig. l

Fig. 3 is a top elevation of our machine with the top panel removed and is taken onL line 3*-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. i is an internal vertical cross-sectional View showing a portion of vthe 4roperating mechanism and .is taken on line 4=4 of A magazine 6 of proper shape and size to accominodate the stacked articles'is suspendedA or affixed to the upper portion of thel casing. The magazine 6 may, if desired, be provided with adjustable sides to accommodate various sized articles. -A pair of rollers 7 and 8 are horizontally disposed near the bottom of the magazine and are pivoted for rotation to the side walls 'of the casing. It is understood that the stacked articles disposed in the magazine are supported by the rollers 7 and 8.

Each roller has a gear wheel 9 and 10 secured y to an end thereof adapted to rotate with the rollers. The rollers are operatively connected by connecting gear l1, so that they both rotate inl unison and in the same direction. A crank handle 12 or other suitable means disposed on the outside ofthe casing isattached to the projecting shaft 13 of one of the rollers operative to rotate the rollers for a purpose hereafter to be described.

Asuitable coin control mechanism represented in its entirety by numeral l14 is attached to the interiorof the casing andreceives the coin from coin slot- 15. A suitable chute or guideway 16 conducts the coin to a receiving pan portion 1.7 of locking lever 18 frictionally pivoted to bracket 19 atV 20 attached to a side of the casing. The `locking lever has a deformed portion 21 overlapping one end of roller 7 projecting beyond the side wall of the magazine 6. A plurality of pins' 22 (eight being shown in the drawings) 'are firmlyailizzed to and along the periphery of the roller. Locking ears 23 projecting from deformed portion at the end thereof are adapted to dropv between and engage one kor more of the pins 22. In normal position it is seen that the locking lever is in the position illustrated by full linesin Fig. 2, the coin receivingpan being disposed at the mouth'of f lever from engagement with the pins 22 on the ro-ller 7 strikes coin receiving funnel 2st, causing the com to slide off the receiving pan through the funnel and into the coinl box 25. The locking lever then assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

An inclined shelf 26 horizontally disposed has its ends secured to the sides of the casing with its upper edge approximately on a level with the rollers and its ylower edge adjacent the delivery mouth or opening 27 in the casing. The article vended, it is understood, passes from the rollers 7 and 8 across the shelf 26 and out through the delivery opening 27.

A trip lever pivoted at 2 to a suitable standard 30 has an upturned arm portion 31, whose upper end 32 is normally seated in a slot 33 cut in the edge of the shelf 26. The projecting arm of the trip leveris positioned approximately at the midsection of the magazine for a purpose hereafter to be described. The ot-her arm 28 of the trip overbalances the upturned arm portion 31 of the lever so that the upturned portion is normally seated in the slot as above described, and shown in dotted lines in Fig. t. Arm 28 has a bent portion 35 leading to and projecting under the pan receiving end of locking lever 18.

Now it is seen that as the vended article passes over the inclined shelf, the edge of the vended article strikes the projecting end 32 of upturned arm 31, causing it to rotate about pivot 29 until it assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The bent portion 35 of the weighted arm 28 during this pivoting operation raises the pan receiving end of locking lever' 18 back to normal position, moving the ears 23 into locking engagement With the next succeeding pin, preventing further rotation ofthe rollers. As soon as the projected article is removed, the upturned y larm drops back into its slot position.

The rollers are preferably surfaced with a soft rubber composition 3G, either having vacuumeups or ridges in its periphery to posltively grip the lowermost article placed in the magazine, moving it forwardly to the inclined shelf. A sliding and adjustable gate 37 having an outturned guide liange portion 38 may be adjustably secured to the outside front Wall ofthe magazine. Vby means of which the opening between the lower end of the magazine and the forward'roller-S can be varied and adjusted, to accommodate vaof glass or transparent material, if desired,

as well as the front wall of the magazine 6, so that the number of articles contained and the operation of the machine may be ob served. The exterior of the casing may carry advertising matter or may be otherwise attractively decorated. l' The operation of the machine' is as follows A coin dropped into the coin slot 15- passes through the com control mecln ism lll through the chute 1G and onto the receiving pan 17. The impact, as heretoforestated, forces the pan end of the lever 18 downwardly, raising the locking end of the lever out of engagement with pins 22 and the roller 7, in which position it is sustained by friction or other suitable means at pivot 20, the coin then sliding into the coin boX 25. Crank 12 4 can then be turned, operating the rollers, which grasp the lowermost article contained in the magazineand move it forwardly onto the shelf 26, gate 37 having been properly ad-l j usted to permit only the predetermined amount or number of articles to pass out upon the shelf. As the article slides over the shelf, end 32 of upturned arm 31.is engaged by the article and swung outwardly, thearticle proceeding out of the delivery opening 27, where it can be removed. The bent portion 35 of the weighted arm 34 during the pivoting movement engages and raises the panvend of lever 18 and places the ears 23 on the other end thereof into position for locking engage- Y.

ment with one of the pins 22. The machine is now ready to receive a second coin and to repeat the operation.l

Although the machine above described is especially adapted to vending newspapers,

leaflets and magazines, it is readily apparent f that the machine is vadapted to operate lupon other articles in accordance with and under our invention herein disclosed. It is further understood that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompa? nying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Y

Vhat we claim is J 1.v In a vending machine, in combination, a magazine for stacked articles, rollers atthe bottom of said magazine, means for rotating said rollers, coin controlled means normally locking said rollersagainst rotation, includa pivoted lever having one end innormal locking engagement with one of said rollers and its other end adapted torecei've a coin.

whereupon said lever is moved from locking engagement with said roller, and a pivoted trip lever having an end in engageable contact with said locking means and having an upturned portion adapted to be depressed by the vended article to restore the said locking means in locking engagement with said rollers.

2. In a vending machine, in combination, a magazine for stacked articles, rollers at the bottom of said magazine, means for rotating said rollers, coin cont-rolled means normally locking said rollers against rotation, an inclined shelf having its higher edge at the level of said rollers and its lower edge `eX- tending to the delivery mouth of the machine, a slot in said shelf, and a pivoted trip lever having one end in engageable contact with said locking means and having an upturned portion at itsrother end projecting through said slot in the inclined shelf, said upturned portion adapted to be depressed by the vended article to restore said locking means to locking engagement with said rollers.

8. A vending machine, including in combination, a casing, a magazine for stacked articles within said casing, a pair of rollers operably connected at the bottom of said magazine, means for rotating said rollers, coin controlled means normally locking said rollers against rotation, including a pivoted lever having one end in normal locking engagement with one of said rollers and its other end adapted to receive a coin whereupon said lever is moved from locking engagement with said roller, an inclined shelf extending to the delivery mouth of said casmachine.

ing, a centrally disposed slot in said shelf, and trip mechanismhaving an upturned portion projecting through said slot adapted to be depressed by the vended article to restore said locking means to locking engagement with said rollers.

4. A vending machine, including in com- Y bination, a casing, a magazine for stacked articles within said casing, a pair of rollers operably connected at the bottom of said magazine, means for rotating said rollers, coin controlled means normally locking said rollers against rotation, including a pivoted lever having one end in normal locking engagement with one of said rollers and its other end adapted to receive a coin whereupon said lever is moved from locking engagement with said roller upon insertion of ai coin, an inclined shelf having its higher edge at the level of said rollers and its lower edge extending to the delivery mouth of said casing, a centrally disposed slot in said shelf, and trip mechanism operable to restore said locking means to locking engagement with said rollers upon. t-he ejection of a predetermined quantity of said stacked articles, said trip mechanism including a pivoted lever having one end in engageable contact with one end of said locking lever and its other end provided with an upturned portion extending through said slot and adapted to be depressed by the vended article as it leaves the This specification signed this 21st day of December, 1927.

SALVATORE SPINA. ALBERT COOK. 

